34 pages • 1 hour read
A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
32
Play • Fiction
New York City • 1930s
1935
Adult
18+ years
Waiting for Lefty by Clifford Odets depicts a tense union meeting where taxi drivers debate whether to strike for better wages. Union leader Harry Fatt tries to suppress the idea, while workers share personal stories highlighting their struggles. As tension escalates, the search for their chairman, Lefty, ends in a shocking revelation, propelling the workers to fervently chant for a strike.
Challenging
Gritty
Dark
Suspenseful
Emotional
992 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Reviews for Clifford Odets’ Waiting For Lefty reveal a poignant portrayal of working-class struggles that captures the spirit of the 1930s labor movement. Praised for its raw emotional power and social relevance, some critiques note its dated dialogue and occasionally one-dimensional characters. Overall, it remains an impactful and historically significant piece of American theater.
Readers passionate about social justice issues and class struggles will enjoy Clifford Odets' Waiting for Lefty. Comparable to Upton Sinclair's The Jungle and John Steinbeck's The Grapes of Wrath, this play appeals to those interested in the labor movement and the plight of the working class during the Great Depression.
992 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
JOE
An initially hesitant worker who, inspired by his family's dire situation, pushes for collective action as a means to improve conditions.
EDNA
Joe's determined wife, who motivates him to fight for change by highlighting their family’s struggles and using persuasive tactics.
MILLER
A principled driver who rejects unethical propositions despite financial hardship, demonstrating strong moral convictions.
FAYETTE
A capitalist figure willing to ignore ethics for profit, advocating for the development of destructive technologies irrespective of human cost.
FLORENCE
A young woman who faces the dilemma of choosing between love and familial duty amidst financial challenges.
IRV
Florence’s brother, who prioritizes practicality over sentimentality, cautioning her about the implications of marrying someone without financial stability.
SID
A devoted taxi driver engaged to Florence, who grapples with the impossibility of supporting a family on his current wages.
TOM CLAYTON/CLANCY
An undercover operative tasked with disrupting workers’ strikes, masquerading as a supportive worker to mislead the group.
DR. BENJAMIN
A former surgeon turned cab driver after losing his hospital job due to antisemitism, grappling with systemic inequities in the medical field.
DR. BARNES
A hospital administrator aware of the injustices in hospital administration but unwilling to jeopardize his position for change.
AGATE KELLER
A passionate advocate for worker empowerment, urging his fellow workers to take collective action and challenge exploitative structures.
32
Play • Fiction
New York City • 1930s
1935
Adult
18+ years
Continue your reading experience
Subscribe now to unlock the rest of this Study Guide plus our full library, which features expert-written summaries and analyses of 8,000+ additional titles.